Jane Jaralve RS 35 February 26 , 2010

BSN – 3 NC Ms. Ma. Rosario Ylar

REACTION PAPER: The Notebook

From the looks of it, “The Notebook” may be labeled as one of the countless

generic, predictable love stories a movie buff may have watched. Name the

characteristics and the movie has it, from tear-generating scenes, romantic moments to

happy endings (although its’ ending may give you a different taste of such). But here’s

what I appreciate about “The Notebook” : it hadn’t in any way failed to give the audience

a story of what true love is , its works, ways , in its purest form – sacrifice and sticking to

love no matter what. Eternal love, that is.

Indeed, falling in love is easy, but the question is: how far can you go to prove

that you two, are really meant for each other and for each other alone? That is the gist

of the story which had personally given me a substantial and sensible reason to still

believe in the single most doubted feeling of mortals --- LOVE.

Rachel McAdams played as the sheltered Southern Belle, Allie Hamilton. Allie

pays a visit to Seabrook, North Carolina to see her family and while there, Noah

Calhoun (Ryan Gosling) works his 'small-town boy' charms on her. Despite disparate

backgrounds, the two find they’ve got a lot in common, including a zest for life - and

their need to drive each other crazy. Over the span of a hot North Carolina summer,

Allie and Noah fall passionately in love.

But all doesn’t go smoothly for the mismatched pair of lovebirds. Allie’s mom puts

the kibosh on their relationship, sending Allie off to school and out of Noah’s reach. Still

Noah persists until finally, seven long years later, Allie returns to Seabrook and must

choose between her rich, handsome fiancée (James Marsden) and her first love, the

equally handsome but not-so-wealthy, Noah.

Although anyone will bet its digits on both extremities that Allie will certainly

choose Noah in the end, it still thrilled me how love can really drive people to do

seemingly absurd decisions.

Another interesting part of the story is how true love doesn’t end up with

overused happy endings, instead has continuously nurtured itself and has even defied a

cruel dementia and death.